JP2010234226A - Methane fermentation treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a methane fermentation treatment apparatus capable of efficiently utilizing the energy of diffusion in stirring action inside a methane fermentation tank. <P>SOLUTION: The methane fermentation treatment apparatus includes: the methane fermentation tank 51; a membrane separation tank 52 where a membrane separator 57 and an air diffuser 56 are immersed inside; an introducing route 59 for making the methane fermentation tank communicate with the part below the air diffuser 56 of the membrane separation tank 52; and a return route 60 for making the part above the membrane separator 57 of the membrane separation tank 52 communicate with the methane fermentation tank 51. The membrane separation tank 52 is provided with a downward flow path part 58 on the side of the membrane separator 57, and the return route 60 has a flow path cross section smaller than the horizontal cross section of the membrane separator 57 and is opened on the ceiling wall 52a of the membrane separation tank 52 within the vertically upper region of the membrane separator 57. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a methane fermentation treatment apparatus and relates to a technique for stirring a methane fermentation tank.

  There exists a thing described in patent document 1, for example in this kind of methane fermentation processing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 8, an external circulation channel 2 is provided at a side portion of the methane fermentation tank 1, and a closed region is formed by the methane fermentation tank 1 and the external circulation channel 2. The raw material sludge supply system 3 is connected to the upper part of the methane fermentation tank 1, the sludge discharge system 4 for extracting the fermented sludge is connected to the bottom part, and the working gas supply system 5 connected to the gas phase in the tank is connected to the ceiling part. Yes. The working gas supply system 5 has a blower 5 a, and the tip side is connected to an air diffuser 6 disposed in the external circulation channel 2.

  The external circulation flow path 2 includes a main body portion 2a extending in the vertical direction in which the air diffuser 6 is disposed, an upper communication portion 2b that communicates the main body portion 2a with the upper region in the tank, and a lower communication portion that communicates with the lower region. 2c. The membrane separation device 7 has a plurality of flat membrane cartridges arranged in parallel and in the vertical direction, and a flow path is formed between the respective flat membrane cartridges. A gas return pipe 8 is provided in communication with the gas phase part of the methane fermentation tank 1 and the top part of the external circulation channel 2.

  With this configuration, biogas generated in the tank is supplied as working gas to the diffuser 6 through the working gas supply system 5 by driving the blower 5a. The working gas generates a gas-liquid mixed phase driving flow in the external circulation flow path 2 by the air lift action, and this driving flow flows from the main body portion 2a of the external circulation flow path 2 to the methane fermentation tank 1 through the upper connecting portion 2b. The fermentation sludge in the methane fermentation tank 1 is agitated by the driving flow. On the other hand, the tank liquid in the lower region of the methane fermentation tank 1 is sucked into the main body 2a from the lower communication part 2c, and the fermentation sludge is circulated through the methane fermentation tank 1 and the external circulation channel 2. The entire amount of the fermented sludge that flows into the external circulation flow path 2 by this circulation is supplied to the flow path between the membranes of the membrane separation device 7 in a cross flow, and the driving flow is used as a sweep flow on the membrane surface of the membrane separation device 7. Wash with action.

  In what is described in Patent Document 2, a closed region sealed by a methane fermentation tank 21 and a membrane separation tank 22 is formed, and the membrane separation apparatus 23 is disposed so as to be immersed in the membrane separation tank 22. The methane fermentation tank 21 is connected to a raw material supply system 24 for introducing high-concentration organic waste as a raw material and a sludge extraction system 25 having a sludge pump 25a. In order to circulate the fermentation sludge in the methane fermentation tank 21 between the methane fermentation tank 21 and the membrane separation tank 22, the sludge circulation system 26 having a circulation pump 26a and the fermentation sludge in the membrane separation tank 22 are used as the methane fermentation tank 21. The sludge return system 27 to return to the gas, the aeration gas supply system 28 having a blower 28a for supplying the gas in the tank of the methane fermentation tank 21 to the diffuser 23b, and the gas in the tank of the membrane separation tank 22 to the methane fermentation tank 21. A gas return system 29 for returning to the above is provided.

JP 2001-170631 A Japanese Patent No. 3524004

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, an upper communication portion 2b that communicates with the upper region in the tank communicates with the side portion of the main body portion 2a of the external circulation channel that extends in the vertical direction in which the air diffuser 6 is disposed. In addition, since the flow is disturbed when the upward flow that has passed through the membrane separation device 7 flows into the upper communication part 2b, the loss of energy is large, and the energy of the aeration can be efficiently used for the stirring action in the methane fermentation tank 1. Can not. In addition, if the amount of air diffused is increased to increase the stirring force, the vibration at the upper part of the membrane cartridge becomes intense and there is a risk of damage. Since the flow is disturbed in the main body portion 2a of the external circulation channel, the membrane surface cannot be cleaned effectively, which increases the frequency of membrane cleaning. In Patent Document 2, there is a similar problem.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and can efficiently use the energy of aeration for the stirring action in the methane fermenter, effectively increasing the flow rate on the membrane surface and cleaning the membrane surface. An object of the present invention is to provide a methane fermentation treatment apparatus that can reduce the maintenance frequency.

  In order to solve the above problems, a methane fermentation treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a methane fermentation tank, a membrane separation tank in which a membrane separation means and an air diffuser disposed below the membrane separation means are immersed, and one opening. In the methane fermentation tank, it communicates below the liquid level in the methane fermentation tank and communicates in the membrane separation tank below the air diffuser at the other opening and in the membrane separation tank above the membrane separation means at one opening. And having a return path communicating with the methane fermentation tank at the other opening, the membrane separation tank has an upward flow path section provided in the membrane separation means and a downward flow path section provided on the side of the membrane separation means, The return path has a channel cross section smaller than the horizontal cross section of the membrane separation means, and opens to the ceiling wall of the membrane separation tank in the vertically upper region of the membrane separation means.

In the methane fermentation treatment apparatus of the present invention, in the membrane separation tank, the horizontal cross-sectional area of the downward flow path portion is in the range of 0.35 to 3.5 times the horizontal cross-sectional area of the upward flow path portion. It is characterized by.
In the methane fermentation treatment apparatus of the present invention, the membrane separation tank is characterized in that the ceiling wall has a tapered shape that is inclined upwardly toward the opening of the return path.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an upward flow is generated in the membrane separation tank by the air lift action of the gas diffused from the diffusion means, and the upward flow passes through the upward flow path portion in the membrane separation means. In the meantime, the membrane is separated by membrane separation means. The liquid in the tank that has passed through the upward flow path in the membrane separation means is returned to the methane fermentation tank through the return path by the upward flow, and the liquid in the tank in the methane fermentation tank is introduced into the membrane separation tank through the introduction path. Is done.

  In the membrane separation tank, the return path opens in the ceiling wall of the membrane separation tank, and has an upward flow path portion provided in the membrane separation means and a downward flow path portion provided on the side of the membrane separation means. The entire flow is adjusted and a circulating flow is generated in the membrane separation tank. That is, the energy that has not contributed to the circulation flow to the methane fermentation tank among the energy given by the air diffuser is used for the generation of the circulation flow in the membrane separation tank, and the stagnation and disturbance of the flow in the membrane separation tank are prevented. Since it can suppress, the abnormal vibration in a membrane separation means is suppressed, and the flow velocity on the membrane surface of an upward flow increases and the cleaning effect with respect to a membrane surface increases. Moreover, the circulation flow volume between a methane fermentation tank and a membrane separation tank increases because the flow volume which passes a membrane separation tank increases, As a result, stirring in a methane fermentation tank is accelerated | stimulated and a methane fermentation process can be accelerated | stimulated. For this reason, the maintenance frequency can be reduced by increasing the cleaning effect, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the power.

The schematic diagram which shows the methane fermentation processing apparatus in embodiment of this invention. Graph showing the relationship between the width of the downward flow path and the circulation flow rate Graph showing the relationship between the cross-sectional area of the downward channel / the cross-sectional area of the entire intermembrane channel and the circulation flow rate ratio The schematic diagram which shows the methane fermentation processing apparatus in other embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the methane fermentation processing apparatus in other embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the methane fermentation processing apparatus in other embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the methane fermentation processing apparatus in other embodiment of this invention. Schematic diagram showing a conventional methane fermentation treatment device Schematic diagram showing a conventional methane fermentation treatment device

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a membrane separation tank 52 is provided on the side of the methane fermentation tank 51, a raw material sludge supply system 53 is connected to the upper part of the methane fermentation tank 51, and a sludge discharge system 54 for taking out the fermentation sludge is connected to the bottom. is doing. A working gas supply system 55 that communicates with the gas phase in the tank is connected to the ceiling of the methane fermentation tank 51. The working gas supply system 55 has a blower 55a and the tip side is disposed in the membrane separation tank 52. The air diffuser 56 is connected to the air diffuser 56.

  In the membrane separation tank 52, a membrane separation device 57 as membrane separation means is immersed above the air diffuser 56, and the membrane separation device 57 arranges a plurality of flat plate membrane elements 57a in parallel and vertically, An upward flow path portion 57 b is formed by a flow path between the flat membrane cartridges, and a downward flow path portion 58 is provided on the side of the membrane separation device 57.

  As the membrane separation device 57, an immersion type flat membrane, a hollow fiber membrane or the like can be applied in the form of external pressure. In this embodiment, each flat membrane element 57a has a filtration membrane on both surfaces of a filter plate. It is.

  An introduction path 59 and a return path 60 are provided between the methane fermentation tank 51 and the membrane separation tank 52, and the methane fermentation tank 51, the membrane separation tank 52, the introduction path 59, and the return path 60 form a circulation path. The introduction path 59 communicates under the liquid level of the methane fermentation tank 51 through one opening and communicates with the inside of the membrane separation tank 52 below the air diffuser 56 through the other opening. The return path 60 has a channel cross section smaller than the horizontal cross section of the membrane separation device 57, and one opening 60 a opens to the ceiling wall 52 a of the membrane separation tank 52 in the vertically upper region of the membrane separation device 57. The upper opening 60b communicates with the liquid phase portion inside the membrane separation tank 52 and the other opening 60b opens at a position including the liquid level of the methane fermentation tank 51. And communicate with. For this reason, the gas flowing into the return path 60 from the membrane separator 57 can be quickly discharged onto the liquid surface in the return path 60, and the liquid in the tank circulates without being obstructed by the gas. Further, a gas return pipe 61 is provided by communicating the gas phase part of the methane fermentation tank 51 and the gas phase part at the top of the return path 60, and the gas is quickly supplied to the gas phase part of the methane fermentation tank 51 through the gas return pipe 61. To be discharged.

  In this configuration, biogas generated in the tank of the methane fermentation tank 51 is supplied as working gas to the diffuser 56 through the working gas supply system 55 by driving the blower 55a. The working gas causes an upward flow of the gas-liquid mixed phase to occur in the membrane separation tank 52 by the air lift action, and while the upward flow passes through the upward flow path portion 57b of the membrane separation apparatus 57, the membrane separation apparatus 57 is in the tank. Then, gravity filtration is performed by the flat membrane element 57a using the water head in the above, or suction filtration by a suction pump is performed, and the permeate that has permeated the membrane surface of the flat membrane element 57a is led out of the tank as treated water. The upward flow acts as a sweeping flow on the membrane surface of the membrane separation device 57 and cleans the membrane surface.

  The tank liquid that has passed through the upward flow path portion 57b of the membrane separator 57 is returned to the methane fermentation tank 51 through the return path 60 by an upward flow, and the tank liquid in the methane fermentation tank 51 is stirred. On the other hand, the tank liquid in the lower region of the methane fermentation tank 51 is introduced into the membrane separation tank 52 through the introduction path 59, and the tank liquid is circulated between the methane fermentation tank 51 and the membrane separation tank 52.

  In the operation described above, in the membrane separation tank 52, the return path 60 opens to the ceiling wall 52 a of the membrane separation tank 52, and the downward flow is provided on the side of the upward flow path portion 57 b of the membrane separation apparatus 57 and the membrane separation apparatus 57. By having the path portion 58, the flow of the entire membrane separation tank is adjusted, and a circulating flow is generated inside the membrane separation tank 52.

  That is, the energy that has not contributed to the circulation flow to the methane fermentation tank 51 among the energy given by the air diffuser 56 is used for the generation of the circulation flow inside the membrane separation tank 52, and inside the membrane separation tank 52. Since flow stagnation and turbulence can be suppressed, abnormal vibration on the membrane surface of the membrane separation device 57 can be suppressed, and the flow velocity of the upward flow on the membrane surface can be increased to increase the cleaning effect on the membrane surface. Moreover, the circulation flow volume between the methane fermentation tank 51 and the membrane separation tank 52 increases because the flow volume which passes the membrane separation tank 52 increases, As a result, stirring in the methane fermentation tank 51 is accelerated | stimulated, and methane fermentation processing is carried out. Can promote. For this reason, the maintenance frequency can be reduced by increasing the cleaning effect, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the power.

2 and 3 are graphs showing the effects of the present invention obtained by analysis, FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the width of the downward flow path and the circulation flow rate, and FIG. 3 is the downward flow It is a graph which shows the relationship between a road cross-sectional area / all-membranes channel cross-sectional area and a circulation flow rate ratio. The specifications in this analysis are as follows. Membrane element height 1000mm, Membrane element width 500mm, Membrane element thickness 6mm, Membrane element spacing 8mm, Membrane flow channel cross-sectional area 0.5m ² (125 membrane elements unit), Membrane flow in membrane separator The ratio of the channel 8/14, the diameter of the upper and lower pipes φ300 mm, the amount of aeration air 1250 L / min, the viscosity of the liquid in the tank 10 mPa · s, the downward flow path is one side of the membrane separation device 57 in the width direction of the membrane element Only provided.

  As is clear from FIG. 2, as the width of the downward flow path in the downward flow path portion 58 increases, the total flow rate between the membranes indicating the total amount of upward flow flowing through the intermembrane flow path, The amount of circulation inside the membrane tank indicating the amount of circulation is increasing, and the amount of circulation in the fermenter indicating the amount of circulation between the methane fermentation tank 51 and the membrane separation tank 52 in the present invention (the present invention) is the downward flow path. Although it tends to decrease as the width increases, it is increased compared to the circulating amount in the fermenter (conventional) indicating the circulating amount between the conventional methane fermentation tank and the membrane separation tank.

  FIG. 3 shows the ratio of the horizontal cross-sectional area (downward flow path cross-sectional area) of the downward flow path to the total horizontal cross-sectional area of the transmembrane flow path of the membrane separation device 57 (total cross-membrane flow area). The vertical axis shows the ratio of the total flow rate between membranes of the present invention and the flow rate of the circulation amount in the fermenter with respect to this reference amount with the circulation amount in the fermenter (conventional) in FIG. 2 as the reference amount.

  As is clear from FIG. 3, as the value of [downward flow passage cross-sectional area / total inter-membrane flow passage cross-sectional area] increases to 0.35 or more, The flow ratio of the internal circulation rate of the membrane tank to the flow rate of the fermenter is increasing, and the flow rate ratio of the circulation rate in the fermenter to the conventional flow rate tends to decrease as the width of the downward flow path increases, but [downward Even if the value of the cross-sectional area of the flow path / the cross-sectional area of the channel between all the membranes is 3.5, it is still increased compared to the conventional case. Moreover, when the value of [downward flow passage cross-sectional area / total flow passage cross-sectional area] is 0.35 or more, the total flow rate between the membranes increases rapidly, which is preferable from the viewpoint of the membrane cleaning effect. Moreover, if the value of [downward flow passage cross-sectional area / total inter-membrane flow passage cross-sectional area] exceeds 3.5, it is not preferable because the size of the membrane separation tank 52 becomes too large compared to the effect.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show other embodiments of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to those performing the same operations as in the previous embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 4, the downward flow path portion 58 can be provided on both sides or the entire circumference of the membrane separation device 57. As shown in FIG. 5, the other opening 60 b of the return path 60 can be opened below the liquid surface of the methane fermentation tank 51 to communicate with the liquid phase part of the methane fermentation tank 51. In this case, it is preferable that the gas diffused by the diffuser 56 in the membrane separation tank 52 is quickly returned to the methane fermentation tank 51 by making the gas return pipe thick. As shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible to provide the downward flow path portion 58 on both sides or the entire circumference of the membrane separation device 57 and to incline the return path 60 toward the methane fermentation tank 51 with an upward slope, Aeration energy can be effectively used in the return path 60. As shown in FIG. 7, the membrane separation tank 52 has a taper shape in which the ceiling wall 52a is inclined upwardly toward the opening 60a of the return path 60, and the bottom 52b is inclined downwardly toward the opening 59a of the introduction path 59. It is also possible to adopt a tapered configuration, and circulation in the membrane separation tank 52 is promoted.

51 Methane Fermenter 52 Membrane Separator 52a Ceiling Wall 52b Bottom 53 Raw Material Sludge Supply System 54 Sludge Discharge System 55 Working Gas Supply System 55a Blower 56 Air Diffuser 57 Membrane Separator 57a Flat Membrane Cartridge 57b Upward Flow Channel 58 Counter flow section 59 Introduction path 59a Opening 60 Return path 60a, 60b Opening 61 Gas return piping

Claims (3)

  A methane fermentation tank, a membrane separation tank in which a membrane separation means and a diffuser disposed below the membrane separation means are immersed, and one opening that communicates below the liquid level in the methane fermentation tank and the other opening. An introduction path communicating with the inside of the membrane separation tank below the aeration means, a return path communicating with the inside of the membrane separation tank above the membrane separation means with one opening and communicating with the methane fermentation tank with the other opening, The membrane separation tank has an upward flow path provided in the membrane separation means and a downward flow path provided on the side of the membrane separation means, and the return path has a flow path cross section smaller than the horizontal cross section of the membrane separation means. A methane fermentation treatment apparatus characterized in that it opens in the ceiling wall of the membrane separation tank in the vertical upper region of the membrane separation means.   2. The methane according to claim 1, wherein the membrane separation tank has a horizontal cross-sectional area of the downward flow path portion in a range of 0.35 to 3.5 times the horizontal cross-sectional area of the upward flow path portion. Fermentation processing equipment.   2. The methane fermentation treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the membrane separation tank has a tapered shape in which the ceiling wall is inclined upwardly toward the opening of the return path.

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